The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-26
Current Events.

The remarkable industrial growth of the
South has been the marvel of the present
decade. Probably no industrial develop.
ment has heretofore been seen In the
worlds history in similar length of time.
With the return of self-governmeDt and
the assimilation of northern immigration,
the South has seemed to change Its whole
being, and where once was sloth, improvi.
dence, lethargy, there has been developed
an activity, thrift and enterprise rs wonder.
full as II was unexpected The New South
is as different from the Old South as day
from night
Much of this marked industrial growth
has been attributed to the freedom of that
section of our country from the labor
troubles that have at times unsettled the
manufacturing centers of the North. None
Of the great strikes had crossed the old
Mason and DixOns line, nor did II appear
that the influence OF labor organizations
and their Ideas had found . foot-hold
there. This, however. has been shown not
20 be the fact New Orleans has an active
assembly OF Knights, and many of the
plantation hands also belong to the organi-
cation, notably the sugar'making laborers.
The latter on Nov. 1st inaugurated the first
serious strike in the South, asking an in
crease of 25 per cent. The strike had not
amounted to much, though both sides
suffered by It. the hands losing their wa
ges and the planters portion Of their
crops. However, bad blood had been stirred
up by the strike, which, growing hotter
from day to day, on Wednesday last culml.
mated In riot and bloodshed In LafoerChe
,...;,k Tho OF II L. a 70 u al for unn Iu haau
committing depredations and making as.
saults on hands at work and horsemen on
the highways, until the whites engaged a
force TO patrol and protect the district
Meantime negotiations had been opened
with the negroes, an advance In wages
granted as asked, and the matter was
supposed settled. However the iawless
killing Of a negro, again excited the strik.
ers and on Wednesday they attacked the
city patrol of Thibodeaux, riot thereupon
followed In which ~ negroes were killed
and from % to 30 whites and negroes
wounded.
An Indirect result OF the months troub-
les, however, may appear at the ensuing
elections and political proceedings, for 1t is
said the Knights In the state have deter
mined To make war on the planters by
striking at the sugar duties. The tariff
issue has been discussed with unusual ami.
nation and thoroughness, and the knights
insist that they will appeal for a removal of
the duty, declaring that the sugar laborer
will not be hurt by its removal, while one
newspaper In the heart Of the sugar bowl
insists that the only result that can happen
may be the division of the large farms Into
smaller ones which will bring In settlers
from the North aud West to the everlasting
advantage to the people and the country. IL
would be strange II louisiana should ask
for a removal of the sugar duty.
France is probably the only country in
the world where matter of official hood
lerism " would upset n government; cause
the downfall of ministry and the resigna.
ton OF a president, neither of whom are
implicated In the crOokedness charged. Still
the decoration scandal In which vii.
son, son.in-law Of President Gevy, Is impll-
Gated, has done both, and "A really serious
crisis has been reached In France. What
the final end may be remains to be seen,
For a week NJ. Grevy has been hunting for
a man TO form ministry, but without sue
cess, unless M. Ribot, who has requested to
do so, shall succeed. Should ministry be
formed, M. Grevy will resign his office on
Monday next. We don't profess to under
stand French politics-few outside of Paris
do, perhaps land many will wonder, what's
all this fuss aboutg A simple solution,
probably AS good a one as any, Is that the
French people, indignant at the scandals OF
Wilson's life, cannot help feeling that M.
Grevy did the nation an Injustice In allow.
ing such man as his son.in.law was
known to be 10 have opportunities for
dishonest commerce under the protection
of the Elysee-the French "White House."
And such commercel The sale of the
priceless decoration OF the Legion Of
Honor. That men should even dream that
II could be an article OF commerce made
French blood seething hot with indigna.
ton,
The German Reichstag was opened at
Berlin on Thursday last. The crown speech
was very peaceful In tone. Germany has
no aggressive tendencies; she has no wants
TO be satisfied through victorious wars"
She Is at peace; and wishes TO become 80
strong that she can face any danger and
compel peace. The finances show sur
plus.
The treatment of O'Brien In the Tulla.
more jail was the cause OF a monster
meeting IN Dublin, on Wednesday, at
which the Lord Mayor presided, and seven
English members Of parliament were
present
On Saturday night last the German
steamer w. A. Scholten was run into and
sunk by the steamer Rosa Mary In the Eng.
lish channel. Over $50 lives were lost.
There was no disturbance In Trafalgar
square on Sunday, as was anticipated; but
q large meeting was held at Hyde Park.
Mr.. Psrnell made hasty trip TO London
this week. He thinks the present incapa-
BILE government is teaching the people to